At Gunnison Valley Hospital, we’re very proud to be chosen as the place to bring a new baby into the world by hundreds of families each year. We are committed to making your birthing experience comfortable, unique and enjoyable. Because we are small and local, we are able to provide personalized care by dedicated nurses noted for their commitment to working as a team with physicians, other medical professionals, and most importantly, you and your family.

Our family-centered maternity environment encourages you and your partner to participate in the birth of your baby in a suite designed for your comfort. Our private birthing suites are designed to handle labor, delivery, and recovery in a safe and supportive environment. Each room is bright and modern, featuring a large window, flat screen TV, and plenty of room for loved ones to visit.

After delivery, new moms move with their babies into a comfortable, private postpartum room. To encourage family bonding after birth, mother and baby can both be cared for in the mother’s room throughout her hospital stay. You and your baby will remain in this cozy, homelike atmosphere where family bonding and sibling involvement are encouraged and can take place privately.

Your doctor will tell you when to come to the hospital when you are in labor. Most first-time parents will be asked to wait at home until labor is well established – usually when contractions are about five minutes apart. Notify your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms at any time during your pregnancy:

Vaginal bleeding

Vaginal discharge that is unusual

Pain or burning upon urination, or decrease in urination

Persistent nausea or vomiting

Leakage of fluid from the vagina

Sharp pelvic pain or severe cramping

Severe, persistent, frequent headaches

Visual disturbances such as blurred vision, white lights or flashes, dots in front of the eyes

Sudden swelling in hands, feet, and face

Falling or sustaining a blow to your abdomen

Noticeable decrease or absence of fetal movement

High fever – over 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit orally

Contractions more often than four times an hour if you are less than 37 weeks

Low back pain that comes and goes

Any other problem that feels unusual

NeoPuff Resuscitation Tool

Gunnison Valley Hospital’s Labor and Delivery services are now augmented with a new resuscitation tool called the NeoPuff, which helps newborn infants struggling to take their first breath. The NeoPuff is used at neonatal intensive care units around the world and ensures that a baby receives consistent breath patterns with accurate pressure.

At times, transporting newborns to a neonatal unit is necessary, but the NeoPuff allows doctors at the hospital to help the majority of newborns with respiratory problems locally as opposed to transporting the infant, which can be costly and stressful for the family.